From left are Julie Featherstone, Betty Perkins, Karen Crown, Robin McGowan, Frank De Lucia and Nicholas Wagner. Belleair Rotary concluded the presentation by providing contributions to the following programs: $5,000 to Doorways, $1,250 to Abilities and $500 to La Clinica Guadalupana.

BELLEAIR – The Belleair Rotary Club honored longtime member Betty Parkins. She was the honorary chairwoman at the very successful Annual Wine & Tapas Extravaganza fundraiser in April.

Some of the proceeds from the fundraiser were given to three local organizations:

Robin McGowan is the vice president of the Pinellas Education Foundation and comes from a family of educators. She said that with the support of Belleair Rotary, the Doorways program has recently helped 11 high school students graduate within a normal 12-year period. This was accomplished through program requirements that the students adhere to specific social and academic standards.

Frank De Lucia is the CEO of Abilities and has worked with the organization for the last 30 years. Abilities is currently placing an emphasis on providing disabled veterans with employment and housing. Abilities also runs a Veterans Mall, which collects and distributes equipment and other supplies for daily living.

Nicolas Wagner is the ARNP of La Clinica Guadalupana. This organizations mission is to provide medical care in accordance with Judeo-Christian ethical principles with a preferential love for the poor. One full-time family nurse practitioner and two Honduran nuns manage the clinic. They currently have a volunteer medical staff of 12 local physicians who volunteer an average of one evening per month. It is conservatively estimated that $16 of care is provided for every dollar donated.